Why Buy a Real Christmas Tree?

Many consumers will be asking themselves that question this holiday season.

In this age of environmental awareness it's appropriate to know a favorite family holiday tradition of choosing a real Christmas tree over an artificial tree is still the environmentally sound choice.

"What could be simpler or more natural?" says Bob Scott, President of the National Christmas Tree Association. "Buying a real Christmas tree is definitely an environmentally sound choice."

"Consumers are showing their preference for real, natural products that are socially conscious. Many young families are attracted to the tradition of celebrating Christmas with a real tree in their home," explained Scott.

Christmas tree farms stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soils that could not support other crops.

A benefit to the atmosphere, real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases, emitting fresh oxygen. This helps prevent the earth-warming "greenhouse effect". One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. With approximately one million acres producing Christmas trees in the United States, that translates into oxygen for 18 million people every day. For every real Christmas tree harvested, three seedlings are planted in its place.

Real Christmas trees are an all-American, recyclable resource. Artificial trees, most of which are manufactured in Korea, Taiwan or Hong Kong, consist of plastics and metals that aren't biodegradable. When disposed of, the artificial trees will never deteriorate. Their effects on our environment are evident and will remain for countless generations.

Give a gift back to the environment!

• Real Christmas trees are an all-American product, grown in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Most artificial trees are manufactured in Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.
• Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals.
• For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place.
• There are about 1 million acres in production for growing Christmas trees. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
• There are about 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S., and over 100,000 people employed full or part time in the industry.
• There are approximately 5,000 choose and cut farms in the U.S.
• It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retail sale height (6 feet), but the average growing time in 7 years.
• The top selling Christmas trees are: Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Noble Fir, Scotch Pine, Virginia Pine and White Pine.

It's Environmentally wrong to buy and use plastic trees!

Consider these important facts...

1. Fake trees and wreaths are made from nonrenewable petroleum.
   REAL Christmas trees and wreaths do not harm our environment and our resources... they are produced as an agricultural crop. Each year Christmas tree growers replace cut trees with a new crop of seedlings.
2. When a fake tree catches fire, it puts dangerous toxic fumes into the air.
   A properly cared-for REAL Christmas tree will not catch fire easily. If and when it does, its fumes will certainly not be as toxic. In addition, one acre of REAL Christmas trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces enough oxygen for 18 people.
3. Fake trees cannot be recycled. When they are disposed of in a sanitary landfill, they will not disintegrate, but will remain there forever, taking up increasingly scarce landfill space.
   Our cities today are faced with a critical shortage of sanitary land fill space. Many of them, and states as well, have passed laws prohibiting disposal of REAL Christmas trees in a landfill. REAL trees are thus being used in various helpful ways when disposed of...such as ground-up mulch to replenish the soil, fish habitat and other useful methods.
   
   But, what about disposal of fake Christmas trees? No legislation has yet been passed to prohibit their disposal in a landfill. A fake Christmas tree has no use whatsoever when disposed of, except to continue taking up space in critically-needed landfill space.
4. Fake trees are manufactured mainly outside of the United States.
   We hear much today about our economy being faced with a loss of jobs. Why do we continue to promote loss of jobs in the Christmas tree industry by buying and using fake Christmas trees and wreaths when very few fake trees and wreaths are made in the United States by American Labor.
   
   Thousands of jobs have already been lost in the Christmas tree industry because continued sale and use of fake trees and wreaths continues to be encouraged.
   
   Over the years, the Christmas tree has come to symbolize the faith and hope of harmony among all mankind. This spirit is REAL and a REAL Christmas tree, when brought inside our homes, projects this feeling through its pleasant scent and natural warm beauty.

Wake Up, America!

Celebrate Christmas with a REAL Christmas tree and wreath, while helping protect our valuable nonrenewable environment.

[via Christmas-Tree.org]

Nut Butter Battle: Almond vs. Peanut

In recent years, almond butter was somehow anointed the chosen nut butter among health-conscious eaters, who smear it on their sprouted breads and gaze upon peanut butter as its low-brow relative.

But the creamy almond treat is not cheap (it's often about double the price of peanut), and when pressed, most people really can't tell you why they're willing to splurge.

So, we asked top nutritionists and health coaches to really break down the health differences between the two nut butters we're obsessed with most. (That is, unless you've already moved on to the new superfood-infused nut butters).

Which is better for you—almond or peanut? Welcome to the nut butter battle...

Macronutrients

When it comes to the big guys—carbs, protein, and fat—almond and peanut butter are like fraternal twins. "You can see a gram difference here or there, but it doesn't really make a difference," says Pure Nutrition founder Christian Henderson, MS, RD. A single two-tablespoon serving of either is high in calories (200) but comes with lots of protein (about 7g) and healthy fats.

Some nutritionists and health coaches point to almond's slightly higher concentration of good fats, but the difference is nominal. "Almonds have a little bit less saturated fat, but I feel a little bit silly saying that, since they're so close," says SPE Certified's senior culinary nutritionist Natalia Hancock, RD.

Micronutrients

Within the nitty gritty nutrients is where a difference starts to emerge between the butters.

"Almond is better for vitamin E and magnesium, which are two very important micronutrients," Henderson explains. "Vitamin E is an antioxidant and magnesium is important for bone health and your central nervous system." This is especially powerful since vitamin E is not found in a wide variety of foods.

Almond butter also has more calcium and iron than peanut.

Natural and Organic

No matter which nut butter you're choosing, looking out for added sugar and preservatives is a must; ingredient lists should include little more than plain old nuts. You can satisfy this requirement with either butter, but "when you go shopping for almond butter, it's almost all natural brands, you don’t see the Jiffy," says health coach and Sakara Life founder Danielle DuBoise. "It's just easier to choose a natural, no-added-sugar, no-preservatives almond butter."

And when it comes to organic, you have to be more careful with peanuts, says Henderson. "Peanuts are just one of those crops like soybeans and corn that are so overgrown and overprocessed in America. They're hard to grow, so many pesticides are often used on peanuts," she says. "If the peanut butter is not organic, you don’t want to be anywhere near it."

Other Factors

Aside for nutrition facts, there are a few other factors experts consider. Peanuts crops are susceptible to fungi called aflatoxins, which are associated with an array of diseases. The FDA does regulate the presence of aflatoxins, but some say you can't be too careful. "I worry about that, so I just err on the side of caution," DuBoise reasons.

Henderson also says that she's noticed from observations in her practice that almond butter has worked better for her clients struggling with weight loss. "Peanuts just tend to be more addictive for people; almonds tend to be more filling." Peanuts also may cause more bloating, since they're technically legumes, not nuts.

Taste and Uses

Of course, since both butters can be part of a healthy diet, a lot of decisions come down to which just works better, for your taste buds or whatever you're whipping up in the kitchen. "They each have their own place," says Hancock, who works with top chefs to create flavorful, healthy meals around the country. "I think peanut butter tastes better with bananas and almond tastes better with apples."

And while almond butter works really well in smoothies, peanut butter does tend to have more culinary uses, she says. "I'll use peanut butter in a stir fry, Thai style, and I do a really great African spicy sweet potato soup with peanut butter in it that’s really delicious."

[via Well + Good]